Abstract

Performance and physiological traits and health of spontaneous and induced triploid tench are reviewed. Triploidy is best induced with cold shock; with triploids exhibiting 13.5–51.5% better weight gain, 2.69–3.94% higher slaughtering value, 20–60% lower gonadosomatic index, 0.9–4.5% higher dry matter in flesh and up to 107% more flesh fat than diploids, if farmed untill post sexual maturity. Triploids exhibit more abdominal fat and less polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n-3 and n-6 groups in the flesh. Triploid females are sterile, while triploid males may produce aneuploid spermatozoa with varying DNA content (1–1.9n) which may initiate development of embryos. Triploids have milder seasonal dynamics in their erythrocyte profile than the diploids. Thinner diffusion distance in gills of triploids than in diploids is interpreted as adaptation to lower aerobic capacity. Triploids show neither stronger tendencies to anatomic malformations, nor have bigger affinity to parasitic diseases than the diploids. Production of triploid tench could be an economically interesting method of farming to higher marketable weight, bringing a relatively high product quality.